THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016
FEATURES
Tomorrow’s horoscope
Lazy wife angers husband
Dear Annie: My wife and I
have been married for 30 years
and we’ve had the same problem
all of that time. She doesn’t have
an outside job, but she doesn’t
do much around the house, ei-
ther. She doesn’t clean and rare-
ly cooks. It is always up to me
to tidy up. I am forever picking
up stuff, clearing piles of papers
and eating mostly store-bought
meals.
After a day at work, I would
like to relax a bit. But I cannot
tolerate this type of messy, dirty
atmosphere. It upsets me and I
lose my temper. This has been
going on for our entire marriage
and nothing changes. When I
raise my voice, I am blamed for
having a temper and made out to
be the bad guy, and around and
around we go. What can I do? —
Going Mad in Canada
Dear Mad: This type of is-
sue should be addressed early in
a marriage, before the behavior
comes entrenched and resent-
ment builds. After 30 years of en-
abling, you are delusional if you
expect your wife to suddenly turn
into a housekeeper. Losing your
temper obviously isn’t working.
,QVWHDG ¿QG ZD\V WR FRSH &DQ
you hire cleaning help so that the
ful brat.
7HOO ³+HDUWEURNHQ´ WR JHW RXW
while she can. Moving in won’t
¿[DQ\WKLQJ:HWULHGFRXQVHOLQJ
Creators
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Syndicate Inc.
ing her awful behavior and she
whined that she didn’t want to
Kathy Mitchell
go. We couldn’t force her, so we
and
got nowhere and now I just deal
Marcy Sugar
with it.
I have tried to be nice, but it
house stays mostly tidy? We also doesn’t work. My husband won’t
recommend that you stop making do anything about it, because he
an issue of it. Instead, say noth- doesn’t see it. My best response
LQJ&RRN\RXURZQPHDOVFOHDQ now is to just ignore her, as sad
your own dishes, wash your own as that sounds. — Frustrated in
clothes, and if your wife objects, Oregon
Dear Oregon: It’s too bad that
tell her as sweetly as possible that
your stepdaughter has chosen to
she is welcome to do the same.
Dear Annie: “Heartbroken in ruin what could be a solid moth-
&DOLIRUQLD´ QHHGV WR UXQ IRU KHU er-daughter relationship, and that
life. No amount of counseling is your husband prefers to keep his
going to help a guy who doesn’t blinders on. We hope the daugh-
ter grows up enough to be tolera-
see that his kids are tyrants.
I married a man who has a ble and that your husband’s other
rude teenage daughter. This kid qualities make up for the frustra-
FDQÀLSDVZLWFK6KHLVQDVW\WR tion.
Several readers suggested that
me and then becomes a little an-
gel the second my husband walks ³+HDUWEURNHQ´VXUUHSWLWLRXVO\UH-
in the door. When I come home cord her stepdaughter’s bullying
from work, she won’t even ac- and then play it back for the hus-
knowledge me. Of course, I am band. That might open his eyes,
not allowed to say anything about but we aren’t convinced that it
her rude behavior, or question his will change his attitude toward
constant spoiling of this ungrate- his child.
Annie’s
Mailbox
5A
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). While it may
be easier to get angry than it is to work out
a solution, there is little to be gained from
losing control. Remove yourself from the sit-
uation to think it through. A walk around the
block will produce brilliance.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Part of the
“homework” you need to do will involve
getting a second (and third and fourth and
seventh) opinion. Your keen mind will sort
through this data and home in on the golden
ticket.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Before you go
counting that admired someone among the
glorious, consider where the person came
from and how he or she got to the current
position. You’re glorious in your own way, too,
you know.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). If you have
to give up a little money and some of your
time to make a partner happy, it will be worth
it. What’s even harder may be the part where
you have to compromise on a preference.
You’re up to this!
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). At times there is
simply nothing left to do but give an ultima-
tum. These times are few and far between
and, however dramatic today’s circumstanc-
es may seem, this is not one of them.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Dish out com-
pliments — to your friends, to strangers,
your boss, your loved ones, etc. Everyone
could use your brand of ego-inflation. Even
people you think would be above flattery will
eat yours up.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). What used to
seem romantic may now get on your nerves;
such is the bane of familiarity. The answer
is to go off in separate directions for a while
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
and gather new influences so you’ll be men-
tally fresh again when you reunite.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). When you
can’t change the way things are, you may
still be able to change how you experience
the way things are. Detachment is the key.
This will be made much easier by today’s
delicious distraction.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Those
moments when you first wake up and right
before you fall asleep are potent. Don’t waste
this power concentrating on responsibilities
and worries. Use it to project your love and
envision your happy future.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You have
enormous respect and gratitude for the one
who will overlook your flaws, excuse your
mistakes and generally try to see and bring
out the best in you at every juncture.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Though
you may have been completely convicted in
a certain belief yesterday, this is a new day
with fresh evidence, different challenges and
a unique set of circumstances.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It’s time for
you to assume leadership. If you followed
the protocol it would only cause hesitation,
doubt and confusion. Instead, swoop in and
start handling things. Act, delegate, decide.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 15). One dec-
laration having to do with who you are (or
want to be) will make all of the difference in
where you arrive this year. Small improve-
ments will have outsized effects on your
love life in February. In March, the trust and
rapport you generate in your relationships
will lead to professional advancement and fi-
nancial gain. Leo and Pisces adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 5, 35, 41, 19 and 43.